Table and bench



C. E. STOUT TABLE AND BENCH Aug. 2, 1955 Filed April 5, 1954 INVENTOR. CHARLES E. srour My M ATTORNEY United States Patent TABLE AND BENCH Charles E. Stout, Santa Clara, Calif. Application April 5, 1954, Serial No. 420,813 4 Claims. (Cl. 155-124) This invention relates to improvements in tables and benches, and more particularly to a table-and-bench combination that requires but two legs for its support and which is adapted to ready storage when not in use.

Predominant in architectural planning for public schools, particularly in regions of mild climate, is the so-called Finger Plan. Under this plan the buildings are constructed in long wings of one-room width which are served by covered, outdoor passageways. The purpose of such planning is to cut school plants to classrooms plus some administrative and storage space, so that available public funds can accommodate greater classroom needs resulting from a large increase in the number of children of school age. Multi-use buildings for group gatherings are deferred under such planning.

Consequently, more group activities, including lunch eating, are moved out of doors, particularly in areas of fairly mild climate. As a result, outdoor tables and benches have become common. However, conventional outdoor table-and-bench combinations are normally of a heavy, cumbersome construction that is not readily adapted to the mobile requirements of current planning. Instead, such structures are usually extremely bulky, wasteful of material and, consequently, hard to handle or store. In addition, present table-and-bench combinations are not fashioned for compact storage, and thus are usually left outdoors to endure constant weathering so that they are in need of frequent painting or repair.

The present invention is directed toward a solution to the above and many additional problems, as will appear. One object of the present invention is to provide an integral table-and-bench combination that is light in weight, may be supported on only two legs, and is easily handled and stored in a relatively small space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a single support for each end of a tableand-bench combination so that a substantial economy can be achieved in materials of construction, weight, and cost of construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination table-and-bench which is exceedingly sturdy and rugged, yet is so light and easy to handle that it may be easily carried in one hand to an indoor storage space or to another outdoor location.

Another object is to provide an outdoor table-andbench structure that has horizontal and vertical clearance between its members so that a degree of nesting is permitted between several such structures to facilitate both compact storage and an economy of storage space.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description and from the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an outdoor tableand-bench combination according to the present invention, with a portion of a schoolyard shown in section to indicate the manner in which the device may be supported upright above the ground;

Fig. 2 1s a view in front elevation of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in plan of the device of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation, similar to Fig. 1, showing the manner in which a plurality of table-andbench structures might be nested in one place on the schoolyard so that an open or an enclosed area might be cleared for group games or dancing;

Fig. 5 is a like view of a pair of table-and-bench struc* tures, showing the manner in which they might be nested and positioned for indoor storage adjacent a wall;

Fig. 6 is a view of a detail of construction along the line 66 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a like view of a slightly modified form of construction.

Broadly, the present invention is directed to the combination of a bench A and table B into an integral unit supported on two posts C that may be permanently grouted in place or, preferably, removably slipped into buried sleeves in a cleared area or schoolyard. Removability permits the ready clearing of a space for group activities. The device is constructed so as to be comparatively light in weight and is provided with horizontal and vertical clearances between its members to permit a degree of nesting for compact storage. As a result, a unique combination device is provided that is essentially one-half of a conventional table and bench and which, consequently, achieves a maximum flexibility of use as well as economies of material, space and cost.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, 10 indicates the sub-surface of an outdoor schoolyard or play area 11 into which are sunk a series of spaced sleeves 12. Preferably, the sleeves 12 are formed of metal, such as steel or aluminum, corresponding in cross section to and slightly larger than the table supporting posts C, although any material suitable for the purpose may be used, such as concrete. Suitable caps (not shown) may be provided for the bores 13 of the sleeves 12.

Inserted freely in the sleeves 12 so as to be readily removable are the posts C of a combination device A, B, C (Figs. 1 and 2). In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the posts C are fabricated of hollow, metal tubing, square in cross-section, so that a rigid structure is provided when the posts C are in place in the sleeves; Preferably the posts C are of sturdy, lightweight structural steel or aluminum, although it is apparent that other materials, such as wood, angle iron, or tubing may also be used.

Supported on and rigidly secured to top portions 20 of the posts C is the table or eating counter B which may be of any suitable lightweight construction, such as wood or a composition or plastic material. As shown in Fig. 6, each counter B preferably is supported on one side of the posts C by angle irons 21 welded at. right angles to the posts, with countersunk bolts 22 and nuts 23 completing the support structure. It is clear, of course, that any other suitable arrangement may be used to support the counter on one side. Thus, in the modified arrangement of Fig. 7, the support posts C are shown as pipe sections 30 with smaller diameter pipe sections 31 welded in apertures 32, 33 cut into the support posts, in a wellknown manner. Similarly, holes could be drilled in the bench supporting pipes 31 for the bolts 22.

Supported intermediate the ends 20, 20a of the posts C and extending oppositely to the counter B is a seat or bench A. The bench A preferably is constructed of the same materials as those used for the counter B to insure lightness of weight and uniformity of construction, al though some variation may be desirable for purposes of wear or food resistance. As shown, the bench A is similarly supported on angle irons 25 welded or otherwise secured to the posts C, with bolts 26 and nuts 27 securing the bench to the angle irons.

It is a feature of the present invention that the bench A be spaced from the posts C along the angles 25, so that the lower ends 20a of another bench-and-table combination may pass freely through the resulting space 29. As best seen in Figs. 1 and 3, nesting spaces 28 are formed at either end of the space 29 by the inner surfaces of the posts C, angles 25, and the bench A. Preferably, these spaces are of suificient size to permit two of the devices to be nested together for compact storage. A completely nested position for two of the devices is illustrated in Fig. 5 which also shows one convenient way to store the devices against a wall. Of course, by spacing the bench A an even greater distance from the posts C the spaces 28 may be adapted to the nesting of three or more of the devices. A similar effect could be achieved by decreasing the width of the posts C.

Fig. 4 illustrates a vertical nesting arrangement suitable for theoutdoor storage of a number of the table and-bench combinations. As shown, three additional table devices, designated 40, 41, and 42, are supported by a single device 43 which in turn is supported in sleeves 12 in the ground 11. Each of these additional devices has its posts C firmly nested in the spaces 28 provided by the structures below. In addition, the posts C of the two uppermost devices 40, 41 are supported by the benches A of the two lowermost devices 42, 43, respectively, while the posts of the device 42 are supported on the schoolyard 11. In this way, several of the combination devices may be supported in a vertically-nested position directly above a single set of ground sleeves 12.

In use the combination table-and-bench of the present invention may be adapted to a wide variety of environments and applications. For example, by a predetermined spacing of the sleeves 12 about a schoolyard, the benches could be scattered for normal lunch-time use, but could be arranged in rows for outdoor classes or group activities. When it is desired to clear the area for group games or dancing, the devices are so light and easy to handle that it is but a simple matter to move and assemble them into compact nesting positions for storage purposes, such as in Figs. 4 and 5.

On the other hand, the shape of each half table combi nation readily lends'itself to the many activities normally carried on in a schoolyard or play area. Thus for eating or other activities requiring a table or counter, the spacing of the bench A away from the post provides a comfortable seating arrangement with the legs protruding rough the opening 29.

The improved construction of the table-and-bench readily adapts it to all uses normally served by the bulky, cumbersome four-legged combinations of the prior art, while simultaneously eifecting substantial economies in materials, weight, space and cost. In addition, the half table configuration is more flexibly adapted in plan than conventional tables and benches since it is cable of fitting into more places, while its extreme lightness in weight imparts considerably more flexibility to the types of activities to which it is suited since it may be easily moved or nested out of the way.

T 0 those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. An integral table-and-bench combination suitable for outdoor use comprising: a pair of supporting posts; a table rigidly secured to the top of said posts and extending to one side thereof; support means rigidly secured to the posts intermediate their ends and likewise extending to one side thereof, but in a direction opposite to that of the table; and a bench rigidly secured to said support means and spaced from said posts to permit a degree of nesting with other such table-and-bench combinations for storage purposes.

2. A half table-and-bench combination comprising two supporting posts adapted to slide vertically in a pair of ground sleeves, a first set of supports secured to end portions of said posts and extending to one side thereof, a table mounted on said first set of supports, a second set of supports secured intermediate the ends of said posts and extending in an opposite direction from said table, a bench supported on said second set of supports and spaced from the posts, whereby a relatively lightweight, two-legged table-and-bench combination is provided which is easily handled and stored.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said bench is spaced outwardly from said posts along said second set of supports so that other half table-and-bench combinations may be nested in the resulting space for purposes of compact storage and handling.

4. A half table-and-bench combination suitable for use in an outdoor area comprising a pair of spaced-apart vertical support posts adapted to be removably received in correspondingly spaced vertical ground sleeves, a pair of horizontal table supports extending to one side from top portions of said posts, a table secured to said table supports, a pair of horizontal bench supports mounted on the inside of said posts intermediate their ends and extending to one side of said posts in a direction opposite to said table supports, a bench secured to said bench supports,

" said bench being spaced outwardly along said bench supports to provide nesting spaces between the inner surfaces of said posts, table supports and bench, whereby a plurality of said table-and-bench combinations may be nested for compact storage with the posts of one passing through the nesting spaces of another.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,625,985 Morgan et a1 Jan. 20, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,041,927 France Oct. 27, 1953 

